1936–2025 | Shepherd of Simplicity and Compassion
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, passed into eternal rest on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His death, caused by complications from a stroke and cardiac arrest, occurred just one day after his final public appearance—an emotionally charged Easter Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Square.
From the Ends of the Earth
Elected on March 13, 2013, following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he became the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from the Americas. As the white smoke rose over the Vatican, the world heard the words: “Habemus Papam.”
Upon choosing the name “Francis,” he signaled his allegiance to the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi (Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone) who was a man who gave up wealth to live a life of poverty, humility, and kinship with all of creation. The Franciscan Order, or Order of Friars Minor, was founded in 1209 and has since symbolized radical simplicity and service to the poor. Much like his namesake, Pope Francis emphasized mercy over judgment, service over status, and creation over consumption.
Echoes of Assisi in Rome
Just as St. Francis embraced lepers and preached to birds, Pope Francis opened the Vatican to the homeless, washed the feet of prisoners and migrants on Holy Thursdays, and spoke tirelessly of the “Cry of the Earth” and the “Cry of the Poor.”
“Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others,” he said in his first papal homily, March 19, 2013.
His Final Service
On April 20, 2025, despite serious health concerns, Francis delivered a stirring Urbi et Orbi Easter blessing. Leaning heavily on his staff, his voice still resonated with warmth and urgency as he called for peace in Gaza, Ukraine, and the streets of American cities grappling with division. Among those in attendance were U.S. bishops including Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., and Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, both of whom praised his unwavering dedication.
Some Legacy Moments of Pope Francis
Laudato Si’ – A Cry for the Earth (2015)
Francis issued one of the most influential environmental
documents in Church history. Laudato Si’ called the faithful to
ecological conversion, reminding us that “the Earth, our common home,” must be
protected from greed and indifference.
2. Death Penalty Abolished – Life Over Retribution (2018)
He revised the Catechism to declare the death penalty
“inadmissible” under any circumstance, affirming the dignity of every human
soul—even the condemned.
3. A Church That Walks With the Marginalized
From inviting LGBTQ+ Catholics into dialogue to appointing women to senior roles in the Vatican, Pope Francis sought to ensure that no one stands alone outside the gates of the Church.
A Humble Resting Place
True to his Franciscan roots, Pope Francis requested burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major rather than within the grand tombs of St. Peter’s Basilica. His funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, and will be led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, with participation from clergy worldwide and millions expected to gather in mourning and prayer.